HUNTINGTON BEACH, Wayne Ford: Finally, an article containing some truth [“Should the GOP throw Norquist over fiscal cliff?” Opposing views, Dec. 10]. Democratic Rep. Lynn Woosley tells it like it is. American for Tax Reform founder Grover Norquist has to take at least partial blame for the Republican Party's problems. He, along with the radical Tea Party, thought to dictate all the terms for who gets nominated for political office.

Woosley also makes important points about Social Security. For years there has been misinformation about Social Security being one of the main causes for our budget woes. Social Security is paid for entirely by separate payroll taxes – by law it cannot be counted for budgetary purposes. We paid for it, and it is ours.

The Chilean Social Security System is something we ought to look to. It is similar to ours except money is put into stocks instead of into a trust fund. This has worked out well for that country and has achieved additional benefits – such as including worker loyalty because money is invested in the very companies they work for.

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NEWPORT BEACH, Chuck Adams: Rep. Lynn Woosley's argument does little more than vilify the “rich” of our society for not giving their “fair share.” She fails to recognize that more tax income from the upper two percent of the rich will support government for about eight days.

Woolsley argues we have been “coddling those who have the most and squeezing those who have the least.” This sentiment perpetuates class warfare.

Radical Saul Alinsky's philosophy has taken root in our society and President Barack Obama leads the pack in support of this kind of harmful rhetoric to stir the pot of unrest.

Woolsley finishes with a most disingenuous remark: “For the good of the country, and also the Republican Party, it's time to toss Grover Norquist's no-tax pledge over the cliff.” Do you really think she cares about the GOP? William Shughart II's opposing opinion speaks for itself: “The disorder in the federal government's fiscal house can be set right only by getting rid of spending programs that American taxpayers can't afford.”

Reform is needed for both taxes and spending. Yet there is little reason to have confidence that our president can face this challenge or make this pledge; it's a unifying position not of his nature.

So, Mr. Norquist, fight on.

Sharpton's evasion

GARDEN GROVE, Marlem Mason: Tax-evader extraordinaire Rev. Al Sharpton was called to the White House to give President Barack Obama advice on tax increases this week. If “tax laws” were applied “with fairness to all,” Sharpton would be in federal prison in Leavenworth along with Rep. Charles Rangel, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and former Sen. Tom Dashle.

They would probably be sharing a cell with actor Wesley Snipes, who also thought taxes were for the little people. Perhaps when Snipes gets sprung from federal lockup, he'd be willing to provide his expert knowledge to our president, too.

Sandy Hook shootings

LAGUNA HILLS, Michael Kolodisner: So last week there were two mass shootings – one in Oregon and the other in Connecticut. The gun advocates will be strident in denying that the lack of significant gun control has anything to do with this. They will argue that if more people were armed, this would happen less.

Despite the denials, the evidence continues to mount that easy availability of gun causes the death of innocent people. Could someone really cause a mass killing with a knife?

We need sane and honest politicians to take this issue on.

Marijuana's positives

IRVINE, Kevin Brunhober: Our nation must realize that legalizing marijuana will only have positive outcomes [“Marijuana none of the feds' business,” Columns, Dec. 14]. In Orange County, both my friends and myself, were raised with anti-drug programs that addressed all drugs the same way. Marijuana and other drugs were all lumped under the “just say no” slogan.

Of course as we grew older, we experimented and discovered that marijuana was not such a big deal. Unfortunately, since all drugs were treated the same in these programs, many children have grown up to assume that trying harder substances is also not a big deal. I have friends in Orange County that are dying from heroin because of this misguided information.

With legalization, the U.S. would save great sums of money to spend on prisons and chip sales would go through the roof.

California needs to get its act together considering we were the ones who lead the way in the medical marijuana movement.

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ANAHEIM, Alma Ortiz: It's somewhat ironic that California was the first state to legalize marijuana for medical use but are now “cracking down” on pot dispensaries throughout the state.

Wouldn't it be in our best interest to legalize recreational use and tax it given the state of California's present financial fiasco? This would bring in needed revenue and would also cut costs within law enforcement and the judicial system.

I would not use marijuana if it was legal. However, legalizing recreational use seems to make sense (cents) for California.

The CSUF scare

LA HABRA, Grace Kim: Coming home after a long day at Fullerton College and hearing about the lock down just 5 to 10 minutes away from where I was alarmed me [“CSUF back to normal after lockdown,” News, Dec. 13]. There have been past dangers on college campuses yet I have never imagined that something like this would happen so close by.

It would be nice if we could wake up and know that we'd be safe, but in truth, danger is present everywhere and a lot of us are lucky enough to slip underneath its fingertips.

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CYPRESS, Veena Awan: Just when one thought the Oregon shooting was scary, Orange County gets a scare at CSUF. From Moreno Valley, a robber lands in our heavily populated college. There is no safe place to go in our country.

Whether a movie theater, a temple, a mall or even a college the fear of a shooting taking place is tormenting. At anytime any individual who looks and acts normal can bring out a weapon and endanger you and others. Action should be. If enough action were taken, our country would not have seen two serious traumatizing events like the Oregon Mall or Connecticut school shooting.

Money motivation

IRVINE, John Jaeger: Letter-writer Phil Enns' argument cries out for a response [“Manage our world wisely,” Dec 11]. Who is Enns to proclaim officially that “the capitalist view” is that “people are motivated only by money”? Enns claimed that people “will do anything, no matter how dishonorable, to acquire it.” His claims are as shameful as they are dishonest. These are two of the primary characteristics of leftist rhetoric.

In the context of global warming and money motivation, I give you Al Gore, a man-made rich through his global warming hypocrisy, as he jaunts around the world, pied piper to legions.

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